Quick Look at Top American Men

“It's a great day for the US guys overall,” said Nicholas Arciniaga after finishing seventh in the Boston Marathon today. It was a good day for placings in depth, as well as the long-awaited individual win by Meb Keflezighi. Five Americans in the top twelve finishers all ran PRs, taking advantage of the disappointing form of so many of the Kenyans and Ethiopians.

Meb Keflezighi won in a PR 2:08:37.

Nick Arciniaga worked with Ryan Hall in the following pack. After Keflezighi moved away, they made sure they did nothing to help close the gap.

“We wanted an American to win. We made sure the Africans were going to have to do all the work,” Arciniaga said. After halfway in 1:05:04, he came home strong for a PR 2:11:47.

Jeffrey Eggleston, who said before the race, “I definitely want to break 2:12,” was right on that schedule, with a PR 2:11:57. A step behind Arciniaga at the half, he came home almost as strong and finished one place and 10 seconds behind.

Josphat Boit made a big impression as Keflezighi's companion through the middle miles, and received high praise for his contribution from the winner. “He's the improving guy,” said Keflezighi. The Kenyan-born new (2012) US citizen was rewarded with a PR 2:12:52.

Craig Leon, who was 10th at Boston last year in 2:14:38, sliced a neat ten seconds off that with 2:14:28 in 12th place.

Mike Morgan continued the Hansons-Brooks tradition of bringing athletes through to top level, with 13th place in 2:14:40.

Abdi Abdirahman was the first American to have a disappointing day, finishing 16th in 2:16:06, struggling after 1:05:17 at the half.

Brett Gotcher had a similar (typically Boston) second half, finishing 18th in 2:17:16.

Scott MacPherson (19th, 2:17:46) and Ryan Hall (20th, 2:17:50) rounded out the 10 Americans in the top 20. Both had unhappy times in the hills, with a big fall-off after halfway in 1:05:37 and 1:05:14 respectively.

Roger RobinsonRoger Robinson ran for England and New Zealand at world level, and set masters marathon records at Boston and New York, with a best of 2:18:44, at age 41.

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